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Hans India
13 minutes ago
- Hans India
Best performers among ticket checking staff felicitated
Visakhapatnam: Divisional Railway Manager of Waltair Lalit Bohra felicitated best performers of the ticket checking staff of Waltair Division for their outstanding contributions during the month of May -2025. The felicitation was held in the presence of senior divisional commercial manager K. Saandeep. The ticket checking staff of Waltair Division, which includes amenities, station staff, and squad staff, delivered exceptional results in May 2025. The team achieved a remarkable collection of fare and penalty to the tune of Rs.2.412 crore, marking a significant increase compared to last May. In recognition of their exceptional dedication and commitment, the staff members were honoured. They include Y Appala Raju, TTI, Vizianagaram and K Srinivasa Rao, TTI, Srikakulam Road as they helped realise Rs.4.90 lakh and Rs.4.43 lakh of fare and penalty respectively, detecting several cases. Divisional Railway Manager commended the relentless efforts of the ticket checking staff for their dedication, diligence, and significant role in performing their duties and ensuring passenger compliance.


Hans India
13 minutes ago
- Hans India
Govt plans to cut paddy cess, abolish market fee
Guntur: The state .government is considering a significant move to boost the state's agriculture sector by abolishing the market fee on rice exports and reducing the agricultural marketing department cess on paddy from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu .assured the Andhra Pradesh Rice Millers Association that a favorable decision will be made soon. A cabinet sub-committee has been formed to study the issue and submit recommendations. A formal government order is expected once the report is finalised. Sources indicate that the agricultural marketing department has already begun preparations to implement the changes. The abolition of the market fee on rice exports is anticipated to encourage traders to increase shipments to other states and countries, thereby raising demand for paddy and ensuring better prices for farmers. Ch Subba Rao, a leader of the AP Rice Millers Association, noted that states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu already have no export tax, giving their farmers a competitive edge. 'By abolishing the market fee, our farmers will also be able to sell rice in other states, which will increase the demand for paddy,' he said. The proposed reduction in the agricultural market cess on paddy from 2 per cent .to 1 per cent is expected to lessen the financial burden on traders, with the benefits hopefully being passed on to farmers. However, the move could significantly impact the agricultural marketing department's revenue, which currently stands at around Rs 700 crore per year from cess collections. A reduction to one percent would cut this revenue by half, to about Rs 350 crore. Employees of the department are opposing the move, fearing a severe financial crisis that could affect their salaries and pensions. They have urged the government to pay their salaries from the '010' head of accounts to ensure financial stability.


India.com
13 minutes ago
- India.com
Time, Delays And Weapon Race: India's Defence Ministry Faces Its Toughest Test Since Operation Sindoor
New Delhi: India's security agencies have long prepared to deal with two hostile neighbours: Pakistan and China. Recent modernisation of military assets accelerated this planning. But a new challenge emerged: chronic delays in military hardware acquisition. Delays have become systemic. Acquiring a weapon system now takes five to six years, far longer than the official two-year timeline. Manufacturing and delivery add more years, depending on the platform's size, complexity and vendor capacity. Budget is not the constraint. India allocates the world's fourth-largest defence budget. This year, Rs 6.8 lakh crore (USD 78.7 billion) has been earmarked. Indigenous capability is a top priority. Prime Minister Modi highlighted its importance during Operation Sindoor. Since the May 7-10 skirmishes with Pakistan, the Defence Ministry approved over Rs 2 lakh crore in new hardware. The list includes drone boats, surface-to-air missiles, night sights for infantry combat vehicles, BrahMos fire control systems, medium-altitude drones and mountain radars. Add Zee News as a Preferred Source On August 19, the Cabinet Committee on Security cleared Rs 62,000 crore for 97 LCA Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets and Rs 19,000 crore for a Netra Mark-2 AEW&C system on an Airbus A321. Delivery within five years is possible but rarely guaranteed. Decision-making delays persist. Even before Operation Sindoor, the MoD expressed concerns. 'Our procurement policy has long been broken. I make no secret of that. We have not been able to meet timelines. The timelines we set are too luxurious,' Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh said in New Delhi on January 10. Emergency procurement powers allow services to acquire equipment worth up to Rs 300 crore. On July 25, 13 contracts were signed for lightweight radars, drones, night sights, bulletproof jackets, ballistic helmets and quick-reaction fighting vehicles worth Rs 1,982 crore. Frequent reliance on emergency powers highlights systemic weaknesses. The July 13 contracts marked the fifth such instance. Delivery within a year often fails, as manufacturers overestimate capacity while rushing for contracts. 'Made in India' projects face long pipelines. The Tejas Mark 1A jet exemplifies this. The Indian Aair Force (IAF) initially ordered 83 in 2021. The order later increased to 180. A single large order could create economies of scale, reduce unit costs, enable multiple production lines and maintain consistent production. Ongoing 2025 is being treated as 'the year of reform'. Two months after Operation Sindoor, the defence secretary pledged to complete procurements within the two-year mandate. The MoD will review and streamline the Defence Acquisition Policy. Committees will enforce time-bound procedures, from requests for proposals to Acceptance of Necessity. 'Make in India' will expand through joint ventures and technology transfers. India aims to become a global defence manufacturing and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hub. Reforms will cover categorisation, ease of business, trials, post-contract management and fast-track absorption of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI). The overhaul will be comprehensive and decisive.